AWAKE - FRENCH DESIGNER WATCH TO END OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION

$307,080

pledged of $30,000 goal

858

backers

A watch build to last, made to follow you anywhere, anytime.

You'll need an HTML5 capable browser to see this content.

Replay with sound

Play with sound

00:00

00:00

Our mission is to prove that there is a smarterand more sustainable way to consume goods.
We want to show that we can create objects with innovative design and very high quality, while still limiting our environmental impact as much as possible. And give people the opportunity to make a difference.

We see our customers as ambassadors for change, who reject disposable products and planned obsolescence, and who are eager to preserve the planet for future generations. Our watch will acccompany them everywhere, and will testify to these shared values.

Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. From initial design to production, every decision we made was driven by the desire to minimize the environmental impact, by reusing existing materials and using the cleanest technologies, while limiting transport to the maximum.

We've created an all new process. The fabric we use for the strap is made from plastic waste, which has been collected from South East Asian seas and Japan. We turn the plastic into pellets, and then into nylon yarn. We create our straps directly from rolls of this material, which is made using no chemical dyes, and is certified by the Global Recycled Standard label. This strap has a story to tell, and that is why we called it "Phoenix".

Vegetable tanned leather strap

Because we wanted to avoid chemicals, we opted for a vegetable tanning process. This means the leather looks more natural, and has no (useless) chemical protection, but rather guarantees the development of a nice and unique patina, over time. Our leather straps are made by a French company with the finest Italian leather.

Natural rubber strap

Made from 100% natural rubber, it is strong, flexible and completely waterproof. Natural rubber can have a "rubbery" smell, so we mix a light vanilla scent into the rubber mixture to keep it smelling good. Made to withstand the elements, natural rubbers offer unmatched durability and comfort for the active wearer and is perfect for any adventure.

316L recycled stainless steel Mesh strap

A metal bracelet for a watch is a must, we have worked with our partners to come up with a fantastic bracelet for these watches. It is made of 316L stainless steel. It has pins all the way to make it super flexible and highly adjustable. The clasp locking mechanisms is a double button system with pin adjustment, for a greater range of sizes. This strap is very resistant, comfortable, and gives the watch an awesome vintage look.

Quick release system

All our straps have a quick release system to allow you to change the strap in less than 10 seconds. Smart and easy.

Our goal to create the most sustainable
watch ever doesn’t mean we had to fall
into the caricature. Our inspiration comes
from natural forms, shapes and textures,
and the sustainability is reflected through
our industrial processes.

The hardest part has been the dial, as we wanted it to be pure, but not boring. Designed with a 3D shape inspired by ocean seabed and mountain terrain, its texture is a reminder of the organic side of our design. We made a large number of tests to get the final colors : navy blue (limited edition), electric blue, khaki green, sequoia brown and grey-to-black.
Their reflections are just beautiful, going from something very discrete to something much more vivid, depending on the light and the angle.

It’s powered by nature. Light is a free, natural
and unlimited energy. Our movement
absorbs this energy from everywhere, outside
or inside, and brings life to our watches,
just as the sun does for humans.

It’s easy going. Three hours wear on your
wrist will provide up to six months of power
reserve, without any light. In simple words:
it’s perpetual energy on your wrist.

It’s sustainable. No disposable battery, so minimal impact.

It’s service-free, which means no extra cost.

Our solar movement is made in Japan by company owned by Seiko. Which means a perfect accuracy, and à 99,5% reliability rate.

What else could we expect?

Our watch definitely focuses on
accentuating emotional expression
and natural impression. In the end,
we’ve made a watch that highlights
the successful combination of design
and sustainability. And above all, made to last.

Water Resistance to 100M

This means you can live with your watch on. You’ll never have to ask yourself if you should take it off not. Totallylife-proof.

K1 Dome glass

The K1 is a premium material which offers increased durability and scratch resistance compared to standard mineral or plastic glass. It is also easier to recycle than saphir crystal. We applied an anti-reflective
coating to the inner side of the crystal to minimize glare.

SuperLuminova ®

Hands and hour markers has
been coated withC1 SuperLuminova
®, a luminescent paint which increases the visibility
when the light comes down
while giving a beautiful look in
the dark.

For us, just as for most people, the experience of a product starts with the box: we wanted it to transmit our values at first glance. 100% recycled and recyclable FSC paper, even though you won't want to throw it away. It's 15% lighter than a standard box, with the same volume, and this allows us to optimize our carbon impact.

Exclusively made for our launch on Kickstarter. Not available after...

We like people who are deeply involved in making our planet a cleaner world. This is how we met the Trash Hero guys, who are doing a fantastic job across the world to create sustainable, community-based projects that remove existing waste, and reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behavior change.
Their action is just amazing, as they’ve already removed 408 tons of trash with the help of 63 000 volunteers.

As we share the same values, we wanted to give them our support to develop their organization and increase their impact. It will result 160 beach clean-up that will allow to remove more than 17 tons of trash from oceans.

Trash heroes from Trash Hero

Hi Guys, this is Lilian and Fred, Awake founders. We started this journey 2 years ago after we met while we were travelling in Asia. From this encounter was born a strong friendship.
Among other common interests, sustainability was something that brought us to more serious conversations. "Why is there so much pollution everywhere, threatening the places we love? Can we do something about it ?"

Low quality goods and planned obsolescence have created more products than we ever needed. Over the past ten years, we've produced more plastic than during all of the last century. With more than 22 000 tons of plastic waste entering our oceans every day, this issue isn't going away any time soon.
There must be a better way to produce and consume goods! We decided to take a stance at it and tackle the problem. This is why we put sustainability and ethics at the core of everything we do.
Being both watch enthusiasts was the opportunity to start with a product we love, but also an object that could become a sign of recognition for a community of people sharing the same sustainable values.

Risks and challenges

Delivery time: In manufacturing, there's always a risk that suppliers do not deliver on time. We've been working with our watch manufacturer through many production runs and we haven't had any significant problems. Still, we've added some buffer into our lead time to account for this possibility. We will be extremely hands on with our suppliers to ensure that everything is moving forward smoothly!

Customs: Some countries are known for being very slow with customs, and you probably know if you live in one. We're sorry that we can't put a magic stamp on our packages to help them get through faster.

We'll update you frequently about our progress, and if there are any blips along the way, we'll let you know! But count on us to do the job...